The above photos have not been edited in any way. What are shown in the photos are different
cases where tap water has been ignited by an open flame. In the article, Sherry Vargson of Granville
Summit, Pennsylvania experienced the same problem. Vargson and the many other citizens of
Pennsylvania have blamed this phenomenon on local hydraulic fracturing sites in
the state. They claim that the methane
that is being leaked into the drinking water wells are from poorly maintained
drill sites and the companies responsible for them have come under certain
scrutiny.
Two companies, Chesapeake Energy and Cabot Oil & Gas,
have each had to pay large sums of money to 35 different households that have
been affected by the methane contamination.
In their defense, however, they claim that the area always had a problem
with methane leaks and the company’s drilling sites are not to blame. In order to prove that they are not to blame,
companies have altered the cement mixture used to make the casing and also
added a steel pipe around the casing to further prevent gas leaks. By making these changes to the drill sites,
companies such as Chesapeake and Cabot hope to shake the blame that is plaguing
their reputation.
The fines set forth on these companies were not enough in my
opinion. $5 million is simply not enough
to pay over 30 homes for poisoning the water supply. It puts the families’ health in great danger
by releasing toxic chemicals into the drinking water and that is not something
that can simply be paid off. The
citizens of these small towns should come together to make sure that natural
gas drill sites are eliminated from the land.
The citizens at least owe it to themselves to make a change happen and
make it happen soon to avoid further damage.
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